Roy Williams has `bitter' memories of Birmingham

Roy Williams probably made this same face at the BJCC in 1997. (AP photo)With Roy Williams bringing his North Carolina team to town to play UAB tonight in the third round of the NIT, I asked him to share his memories of coaching in Birmingham.

Did he ever.

He immediately started talking about the 1997 Sweet 16 game at the BJCC Arena, when his top-ranked and top-seeded Kansas team was upset 85-82 by Arizona, which went on to win the national title.

That Kansas team was loaded, with a lineup that included Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, Scot Pollard and Jacque Vaughn. That team was the consensus favorite to give Williams his first national title.

Then came Arizona, with Mike Bibby and Miles Simon.

"It's one of the most bitter defeats that I've ever been associated with," Williams said. "Playing Arizona, third round, I guess, losing to them. We had the last two shots to tie the game."

Kansas cut a 10-point deficit to one with a furious comeback, but never could tie or take the lead in the final minutes.

"We had a great team that had been ranked No. 1, maybe the entire season," Williams said. "We finished 34-2, but we lost. It was an extremely difficult time for us. It's a loss that still bothers me to this day, so it's very sad thoughts when I think about that game, that's for sure."

The North Carolina program has better memories of Birmingham.

In the 2000 NCAA Tournament, as a No. 8 seed under coach Bill Guthridge, the Tar Heels beat No. 9 Missouri and No. 1 Stanford in the first two rounds at the BJCC Arena en route to the Final Four.

In the 1995 NCAA Tournament, as a No. 2 seed under the legendary Dean Smith, Carolina beat No. 6 Georgetown (with John Thompson and Allen Iverson) in the Sweet 16 and No. 1 Kentucky (with Rick Pitino) in the Elite Eight here to advance to another Final Four.

But the Tar Heels haven't been perfect here.

In the 1985 NCAA Tournament, they put a stop to one Cinderella, beating Sonny Smith, Chuck Person and Auburn in the Sweet 16, but then fell victim to another, losing to Rollie Massimino and No. 8 seed Villanova.

All that Villanova team did was go to the Final Four and stage one of the biggest upsets in tournament history, beating defending national champion Georgetown in the final.